Talk on New Abbey House tonight
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| Pic: Robert French, c1900. |
The talk by the official historian of the house, Colette Jordan, begins at 8pm, and there is no admission charge. Refreshments will be served.
Though the house itself wasn't built until 1755, the heritage of the property goes back to 1486 when a Franciscan friary was established there by Sir Roland FitzEustace.
In 1798, during the rebellion, Lord Edward FitzGerald was successfully hidden in New Abbey House for one night despite the arrival of a search party.
The house was occupied by a number of important families subsequently, including the Breretons in the 1800s, the Dixons from 1909, and the still-remembered Ken and Isabella Urquhart from 1951.
New Abbey was bought by Prince Khalid Abdullah in 1990, some 16 years after the death of Ken Urquhart. It is today a thriving and successful stud farm.
Colette Jordan was Research Officer in The Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses & Estates in Maynooth University. Her primary interest is in the social life of the 'Big House'.
Following her retirement from Maynooth she was commissioned by Prince Khalid Abdullah to research the history of New Abbey. Colette later researched the the history of the Estcourt Estate in the South Cotswolds — another beautiful stud farm owned by Juddmonte Farms.
Colette’s most recent project is the history of Kilkea Castle in Castledermot for the owner, Mr Jay Cashman of Boston. She is also tracing Jay Cashman’s ancestors who left Cork for the United States in 1849.
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